Queer Africa has always existed - so what's behind the worrying rise of anti-LGBTQ+ laws?

Rooted in colonial-era platitudes, a recent rise in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Africa is obstructing progress for queer minorities. So why are these laws being heralded as upholding African tradition? Subscribe to Guardian News on YouTube ► youtube.com
Senegal, Burkina Faso, Uganda and Ghana have over the past few years brought in or are considering introducing stringent laws criminalising allies and members of the LGBTQ+ community. “Motivations for this vary from currying political favour with people and institutions, to meddling western entities outside the continent,” says Morgan Ofori, Guardian journalist and a writer of the Long Wave newsletter. He spoke to awo dufie fofie, an inter* trans woman from Ghana, documents queerness throughout west Africa and has suffered housing discrimination and violence. She and Amanda Odoi – a plaintiff in a case against Ghana’s executive – said rethinking gender in the African context was the best long-term way to combat this repression. The Guardian publishes independent journalism, made possible by supporters. Contribute to The Guardian today ► support.theguardian.com
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